'macropod' originates from New Latin/modern scientific usage, ultimately from Greek 'makrós' meaning 'long, large' and 'poús' meaning 'foot' (combined as Macropus/Macropod-).

'macropod' developed from the New Latin genus name 'Macropus' (used in scientific classification) and from the combining form macropod-; this scientific form entered English as the noun 'macropod' to denote members of the family Macropodidae.

Initially it was closely tied to the genus name (e.g. 'Macropus' for certain kangaroos), but over time its use broadened to denote members of the broader family Macropodidae (kangaroos, wallabies, tree-kangaroos, etc.).